Common sense,
not political rhetoric
Regarding David Anderson, an editor and columnist for GOPUSA.com, claimed in a recent letter to the editor that the Minnesota Senate tax plan would increase taxes on middle-income tax earners and rob Peter to pay Paul. What Mr. Anderson fails to mention is that the current system robs Paul to give Peter a tax break. The Minnesota Senate's plan would provide for a more equitable tax system.
The Minnesota Department of Revenue recently released a tax incidence study that can be found at the link below. On Page 45 you can find the actual total tax rate that all income earners pay:
www.taxes.state.mn.us/legal_policy/research_reports/content/incidence.shtml .
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Individuals and households with incomes between $245,316 and $712,773 paid an average tax rate of 10.7 percent, and incomes above $712,773 paid 9.2 percent. Yet, those with incomes from $27,948 to $105,980 paid an average rate that ranges from 12 to 12.3 percent. These tax rates take into account all state and local taxes and show that Minnesota still has a regressive tax system.
The Senate's tax plan would have helped correct this and stopped Gov. Pawlenty and House Republicans from continuing to rob Paul to give those making over $245,000 a tax break.
The Minnesota Senate's tax plan would make Minnesota a fair tax state. This is common sense, not political rhetoric.
Andrew Korsberg
St. Paul
